Toner processes and compositions thereof
First Claim
1. A process for the preparation of a dry toner powder from an aqueous pigment concentrate dispersion, the process comprising:
- a. blending at least an aqueous-based pigment concentrate dispersion and a resin to produce a paste;
b. charging the paste to an extruder and compounding the paste at a temperature of up to about 150°
C. to generate an extruded pigment/resin mixture with a greater degree of dispersion than was present in the paste;
c. dispersing the extruded pigment/resin mixture in a low boiling organic medium to create an organic phase;
d. dispersing the organic phase in an aqueous phase containing a particulate stabilizer and optionally an interface promoter and mixing the organic phase and the aqueous phase at elevated temperature and under shear force to form toner particles of a controlled size and shape;
e. removing the organic solvent, particulate stabilizer, and interface promoter, if used, from the formed particles; and
f. washing, drying, and collecting the particles for use as a dry toner powder.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention relates to color toner compositions prepared from a process for the preparation of a dry toner powder from an aqueous pigment concentrate dispersion comprising: blending at least an aqueous-based pigment concentrate dispersion and a resin to produce a paste; charging the paste to an extruder to generate an extruded pigment/resin mixture; dispersing the extruded pigment/resin mixture in a low boiling organic medium to create an organic phase; dispersing the organic phase in an aqueous phase containing a particulate stabilizer and mixing the organic phase and the aqueous phase at elevated temperature and under shear force to form toner particles of a controlled size and shape; removing the organic solvent and particulate stabilizer from the formed particles; and washing, drying, and collecting the particles for use as a dry toner powder.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A process for the preparation of a dry toner powder from an aqueous pigment concentrate dispersion, the process comprising:
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a. blending at least an aqueous-based pigment concentrate dispersion and a resin to produce a paste; b. charging the paste to an extruder and compounding the paste at a temperature of up to about 150°
C. to generate an extruded pigment/resin mixture with a greater degree of dispersion than was present in the paste;c. dispersing the extruded pigment/resin mixture in a low boiling organic medium to create an organic phase; d. dispersing the organic phase in an aqueous phase containing a particulate stabilizer and optionally an interface promoter and mixing the organic phase and the aqueous phase at elevated temperature and under shear force to form toner particles of a controlled size and shape; e. removing the organic solvent, particulate stabilizer, and interface promoter, if used, from the formed particles; and f. washing, drying, and collecting the particles for use as a dry toner powder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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- 13. A dry toner powder comprising homogeneous toner powder particles containing at least a binder and a colorant, wherein the colorant is derived from an aqueous pigment concentrate dispersion, the aqueous solvent from which is removed during processing of the toner powder to generate dry toner powder particles exhibiting substantially uniform content and a particle size of from about 5 microns to about 8 microns.
Specification